Kapital pays homage to plight of laborers

We rarely imagine what it took to feed us when we open a can of sardines, much less think of the fishermen who toiled to catch the fish. At the Vargas Museum this month, Kapital: Tribute to Labor brings us closer to the workers' plight through moving pieces from four generations of socio-realist artists.

Kapital pays homage to labor and the plight of workers, in this time when their presence is obscured by the complex networks of world economies. The artists take on the task of creating works that assert the rights and prospects of nameless workers who fuel the machinery of global industries. At the exhibit launch last Friday, U.P. Fine Arts Department of Visual Communication chairman Leonardo Rosete expressed hope that the exhibit will inspire young artists to create similar work, where both skill and advocacy will be displayed. "Such work is not often done, despite this being so important in our society. We recognize that time must be spent for such a noble cause that helps present the situation of our state," he said in Filipino. Former dean of the College of Fine Arts Leonilo Doloricon introduced the exhibit, which has been held annually for several years, as a small offering for the laborers and farmers. He then introduced the participating artists, some of whom were present: Pablo Baen-Santos, Ed Coronel, Mideo Cruz, Antipaz Delotavo, Federico Dominguez, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Michael M. Garcia, Renato Habulan, Gene de Loyola, Ed Manalo, Neo Angono Artists Collective, Ugatlahi Artists Collective, Iggy Rodriguez, Eghai Roxas, Jose Tence-Ruiz, and Doloricon himself. He explained that the theme was chosen because capital is one of the roots of abuse of workers, and the exhibit strives to give labor the importance it deserves. Anakpawis Representative Paeng Mariano also spoke about the plight of workers, expressing hope that cultural workers will continue to support and join in the movement. "Magpapatuloy at higit na lalawak ang pakikibaka ng manggagawa at magsasaka sa mga susunod na araw at mga taon. Inaasahan namin na ang manggagawang pangkultura ay patuloy na makikiisa at sasama sa pagkilos," he said. U.P. College of Mass Communications Dean Roland Tolentino said the exhibit is especially meaningful, hundreds of years after Marx's seminal work in this present chapter of neoliberalism, where people are treated as mere commodities in the global market. He discussed Marx's idea of how products magically transform into commodities. He cited canned sardines which bear no reminder of the fishermen who braved stormy seas to catch the fish, and fastfood employees who never stay long enough to become known to regular customers, because capitalism allows for people to be replaced, just like that. "The works here are of art that denies, art that returns to the body's primordial importance for a humanist and free society," he said in Filipino. Finally, Dr. Norma Respicio spoke of the unique power of art that makes us not only see, but feel. "In this exhibit, we do not only read about it like we do in newspapers, nor do we simply hear about it as we do on the radio. We don't just see it the way we do on television, but here we see everything and feel everything. The works will register not just on our senses but on our emotions as well, and even our thoughts," she said in Filipino. Guests were invited to enter the exhibit after an unusual ribbon cutting ceremony. A few of the participating artists had their wrists bound with yellow straw, and as they were freed one by one, they stepped aside and the entrance to the gallery was cleared. Inside, several works of varying dimensions and material focus on labor: a sculpture of a man trapped inside a balikbayan box, digital art featuring a cheeseburger floating like a UFO, and religious images juxtaposed with prevailing evils. Guests walked around not simply admiring the pieces, but talking about them. The power of art is indeed awesome, and one cannot leave the gallery unchanged. - GMANews.TV KAPITAL, a Tribute to Labor Art Exhibit runs from August 13 to September 18, 2010 at the Vargas Museum, UP, Diliman, Q.C.